Read the opposing argument from Sports Geek.
It is never too early to starting voting for in players for the All-Star game!
It is called the All-Star game for a reason, because the rosters are comprised of stars. I know… the concept is simply mind boggling, isn’t it!? But, I digress. Since the singular requirement to be on the team is that a player be designated by the fans as an All-Star, one might ask the question, “What constitutes an All-Star?” The answer is quite simple –virtually any criteria that you can think of.
The term All-Star is defined uniquely by each voter. Some fans vote for their favorite players, regardless of current performance, while other fans vote for players they think are having the best seasons. And if you are like Babe Ruthless, you vote simply for the Yankees for every position on the AL ballot and the weakest players on the NL ballot, because after all home field advantage in the World Series is on the line (whether you like it or not). There really are no wrong ways to define the term All-Star, unless you are referring to any member of the Boston Red Sox.
It is because of this flexibility in the definition of the term All-Star that I feel I have unquestionably won today’s debate. If you can determine who the All-Stars are using any criteria you desire, then there can certainly be no date too early to start voting. Surely my logic driven friend, Sports Geek, can see that (Editor’s note: He can’t.).
I will concede the point that if I were going to vote for the best all around players in baseball it seems a tad early, but the ballot is not a one and done deal. Fans may vote up to 25 times per email address. The current voting system allows fans ultimate responsiveness to the current performance of players. A fan could almost vote twice a week based on player performance. So it is not as if anything is lost in starting the balloting process at this point in the season.
Having an overwhelming fan influence in the All-Star game is actually a claim to fame for MLB. Last season MLB collected an astonishing number of votes, more than 223 million. That overwhelming total is due in no small part to the use of Internet balloting, but it still shows that there are ravenous baseball fans out there eager to have their voices heard. Who is to say that their opinions are any less valuable at the beginning of the season? If they want to vote for a player who is having a surprisingly hot start, like the Chicago White Sox’s Andruw Jones or the New York Mets’ Mike Pelfrey, then let them. Or if they want to vote for former All-Stars that are not exactly performing at the top of their game, like the New York Yankees’ slugger Mark Teixeira (selected in 2005 and 20009) or the Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez (selected in 2009), then that is certainly their prerogative.
Baseball remains America’s pastime and in my opinion the most patriotic of all sports, with the one possible exception being competitive terrorist waterboarding. It is only fitting that the most patriotic of American sports include so much democratic choice, and so much freedom. It may not be necessary to open the All-Star voting now, but there certainly is not something fundamentally wrong with it either. It does nothing to harm baseball. In fact it has sports blogs and media sources around the country abuzz with discussion of the topic, and that, my friends, is free exposure.
So, here’s to you Bud Selig, for opening the ballots early enough to keep us all interested in baseball. You are my write in candidate for All-Star this season.
they should start up the polls as soon as the season starts! Dont wait! If it is like this then everyone gets a chance! not just that players that have one all-star type game or catch the week before the polls close! i dont think it is fare if the dude this week had the no- look sun in his eyes catch not make it but some other guy get a nice catch the week before an make it in! so i agree with you babe ruthless its never to soon!
What relevance does a strong April (see Kelly Johnson, most of the Royals) have in mid-July? April votes are wasted votes. And, there is a reason for the term “mid-season form.” I reject the notion that player hitting .250 can have a hot week before the All-Star game and get in.
i just showed how frustrating it can be when you let fans vote outrageous amounts at a time. i totally swung the voting to “No, it makes a mockery of the All-Star game. (Sports Geek)” within a matter of seconds.. they might as well call the allstar game yanks/red sox vs phillies/cards.. they all have good players but ruiz.. come on!!! rollins is on the dl and leading!!
An appreciated yet ironic way to see the truth of my argument, Jack. Excellent approach to proving my point!!